12 New TV Shows You Need to Watch This Fall

It's fall TV season—the most wonderful time of the year—and you probably already know which returning shows you’re counting down the days for (Riverdale, anyone?). But there’s also a whole bunch of intriguing new content coming on cable, streaming and network platforms, including a beloved 1980s soap reboot, some juicy fictionalized true crime, and a new show from The Wire’s creator starring twin James Francos. Enjoy.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' (Amazon Prime)

Amazon

Amy Sherman-Palladino's fizzy, feisty new Amazon series is such a flat-out home run that we're actually okay with the fact that it probably means we won't get any more Gilmore Girls for a while. Rachel Brosnahan gives a star-making central performance as the eponymous Maisel, a 1960s housewife who puts all her energy into propping up her much-less-talented husband, an aspiring comic—until she realizes she wants a standup career of her own. Expect all the quirky, fast-talking, subtly feminist Palladino storytelling you know and love, only in a sumptuous period New York setting.

Before New York’s Times Square became a sub-Disneyland neon hellscape, it was essentially an open market for prostitution and drugs. This new drama from The Wire creator David Simon charts the legalization of porn in the 1970s alongside the beginnings of the HIV and drug epidemics, with an all-star cast including Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Franco, and James Franco. That is not a typo. Two Francos for the price of one.

Premieres Sunday, September 10.

3'Star Trek Discovery' (CBS All Access)

Courtesy

You don’t need to be a Trekkie to get excited about this thrillingly fresh take, which stars Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) as Michael Burnham, the first officer of the USS Shenzhou, and Michelle Yeoh as the ship’s captain. Creators Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman made diverse casting a priority and have also confirmed Discovery will feature LGBT representation. Hell yes.

Premieres Sunday, September 24.

4'The Good Doctor' (ABC)

If you were obsessed with House back in the day, you’ll want to tune in for this new medical drama from that show’s creator David Shore, who shares a co-executive producer credit with Lost’s Daniel Dae Kim. Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel) stars as Shaun Murphy, a young pediatric surgeon with autism and savant syndrome who uses his genius to save lives and challenge his colleagues’ preconceptions.

Premieres Monday, September 25.

5'Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders' (NBC)

Courtesy

You know you’re already obsessed. This is the first run of a new anthology series in the Law & Order universe telling fictionalized versions of real crimes. First up is the trial of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted in 1996 for the murder of their parents. Edie Falco, Josh Charles and Heather Graham are among the cast.

Premieres Tuesday, September 26.

6'Ten Days In The Valley' (ABC)

Courtesy

Kyra Sedgwick stars in this slick-looking mystery as an overworked television producer, Jane, whose daughter is kidnapped. In a meta twist, Jane has a controversial police series which begins to implode along with her real life.

Premieres Sunday, October 1.

7'The Gifted' (Fox)

Courtesy

This is the second TV spinoff from Fox’s X-Men movie universe, the first being FX’s stunning Legion. Stephen Moyer (True Blood) and Amy Acker (Angel) star as a couple who take their seemingly ordinary family on the run after discovering their children possess mutant abilities.

Premieres Monday, October 2.

8'The Mayor' (ABC)

Courtesy

With all due respect to Scream Queens’ Hester, this sitcom is Lea Michele’s first starring role since Glee. She plays the friend of a young aspiring rapper, Courtney Rose (Brandon Michael Hall) who decides to run for mayor in his small town as a publicity stunt to generate buzz for his career… and is horrified when he ends up actually winning. Any of this sounding familiar?

Premieres Tuesday, October 3.

9'Dynasty' (The CW)

Courtesy

If Gossip Girl left a gaping hole in your heart that no bitchy, glossy primetime soap since has quite filled, you’re in luck. This fresh take on the beloved original comes from GG producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and once again follows the fortunes of two wealthy feuding families, the Carringtons and the Colbys. The show centers on the war between billionaire heiress Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies), and her soon-to-be stepmother Cristal (Nathalie Kelley). Expect catfights.

Premieres Wednesday, October 11.

10'Young Sheldon' (CBS)

Big Bang Theory has been one of the biggest shows on television for so long that it’s amazing a spinoff is only just premiering. This prequel focuses on a nine-year-old Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage, who played Ziggy on Big Little Lies) as he attends high school in East Texas, and is narrated by Jim Parsons, who plays the adult Sheldon on BBT.

Premieres Thursday, November 2, with a special preview on Monday, September 25.

11'Alias Grace' (Netflix)

Courtesy

The year’s second Margaret Atwood adaptation, because we are truly blessed. Alias Grace is based on the true story of Grace Marks, an Irish immigrant and maid in Canada imprisoned for the murder of her employer. Despite overwhelming evidence pointing to her guilt, she claimed to have no memory of the crime at all.

Premieres Friday, November 3.

12'I Love You, America' (Hulu)

Getty Images

Sarah Silverman’s topical variety show will see the comedian discussing the current political landscape of America and the emotions it provokes by making a concerted effort to connect with people who don’t share her liberal opinions.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Harper's BAZAAR participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.